Varying changes of the speed in bicycles, tricycles, and similar machines



July 2, 1929. PALUDET l 1.719.671

vAHYING CHANGES oF THE SPEED IN BIcYcLEs, TnIcYcLEs, AND SIMILARMACHINES Filed Jan. 14, 1928 VA@7g3 www Patented July 2, 1929.

LUIS PALUDET, F ROSARIO DE SANTA IFE,` ARGENTINA.

VARYING CHANGES 0F THE SPEED IN BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND SIMILARMACHINES.

Application led January 14, 1928, Serial No.

` This invention relates to means for effecting change-.speed gearratios-in bicycles, tricycles and similar devices, and` has for itsobject the provision of means-by which the driving chain may beselectivel engaged 'with any one of a plurality of difliirent sizedsprockets onthe rear or driving wheel of the bicycle so as to obtain thedesired speed ratio. Other objects of the invention will a pear as thefollowing description of the pre erred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the drawings: Fig. l is a side elevation of a portion of a bicycle towhich the invention has been applied, two positions being indicated, oneby broken lines.

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section, of that part of the bicycleshown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a front View in elevation of the 2o sectorshowing the detent in two positions,

one being indicated in broken lines.

Referring now in detail to the several iigures in which the samereference characters have been used to designate identical or similarparts, the numeral 1 represents the rear part of the bicycle frame, 13being the usual front or driving sprocket, 7 beingv the wheel j ofordinary construction, and 12 representing the usual chain.

The axle of the rear wheel is shown at 6. Customarily the ends of theaxle are fixed in suitable slots or apertures in the rearmost ends ofthe frame l1.v In the application of the present invention, thispractice is not followed but the axle 6 is fixed in an auxiliary forkcomprising a pair of bell crank levers 3 of similar size andconstruction, themselves ivotally mounted in the rearmost ends of theframe 1 by means of pivot studs 2, best shown in Fig. 2.

The bell crank levers each comprise two relativel adjustable arms 4 and5 having their adjacent ends overlapping and in contact, said ends beingapertured so as to bear rotatably upon the pivot studs 2. One of thevcontacting ends of the arms of each bell crank lever, for instance theend of the arm 5 as shown, is provided with studs 18 passing throughslots in the corresponding end of the other arm of said lever. Thus whendesired, a limited amount of relative rotation is permitted between thearms 4 and 5, limited by the length of the said slots, said rotationbeing inhibited and the parts made rigid by tightening the slots,

246,802,A and in ArgentinaJanuax-y 28., 1927.`

nuts with which the studs 18 are provided. The lower arms 5 of the bellcrank levers are provided with' open slots receivingthe ends of the axle6.l Said axle is maintained rigidly in said slots by means of the thumbnuts 7 and the engaging ends of the-arms 4 may likewise be constructedas desired, but in the preferred form of the inventionhere shown, thesectors are slotted and the arms 4 are provided with' lateral lugs whichpass through said said lugs being each provided with an operating knob17. A spring 18 normally maintains the arms 4 in yielding frictionalcontact with the sectors. The arms 4 are provided with detents adaptedto seat in notches formed in the sectors, thus determining the poslitivestages of adjustment of the auxiliary or r.

The wheel axle is provided with a plurality of gears of different size,that is to say,` having different numbers of teeth;` One of lthese gears8 is shown as being in operative alinement with the chain 12. -In orderto transfer the chain to the larger gear9 which adjoins the gear 8', itis merely necessary/to release the detent from the notch 15 in which itis engaged by pulling upon the knob 17 and then shifting the arms 4 ofthe bell crank levers so as to swing the arms 5 in a direction towardsthe driving sprocket 13. This, of course, brings the axle 6 closer tothe sprocket 13 and loosens the chain so that the latter maybe taken oof the gear 8 and arranged upon the larger gear 9. The arms 4 of thebell crank levers are then again moved downwardly so as to swing thearms 5 in a direction away from the sprocket 13 so as to properlytighten the chain. The knob 17 is then let go, permitting the detent tofall in the nearest one of the notches 15. If the chain is not properladjusted as to tautness by the major steps o adjustment provided by thenotches 15, finer adjustment is made possible by means of the relativerotative adjustment provided between the contacting ends of the arms 4and 5.

The wheel axle mayI be provided on its op- 4to permit the bicycle chainto be 'transferred' romone ofthe said posite side with additional gears0i still dit ferent sizes. To bring these into operative relation to thechain it is necessary that the thumb nut-s 7 shall be loosened, theWheel and axle entirely Vremoved from the arms 5 and completelyreversed. This, however, in the present invention, is quite-a simpleoperL ation.

Vhile I have in the above description endeavored to define VWhat Ibelieve to be a pre- `teried and practical embodiment of my in vention,it is to be understood that the specific features hereinV disclosed aremerely by way oi' example and not to be considered limitative in theirbearing upon the scope oi the invention which is to be determined by aliberal interpretation of the appended claims.

What I claim is A device for effecting change speed gear ratios inbicycles and the like, comprising a driving'vvheel axle having side byside, gears diierent size,

a fork pivoted to the rear rame of the bicycle in the ends of Which saidaxle is mounted, ,said fork being svvingable to and from the drivingsprocket of the bicycle manually gears to another, a lever forming partof said fork, a yfixed sector ,With Which said lever cooperates, andmeans `for holding said lever in a plurality of positions of adjustmentWith respect to "said sector. d

Q. A device for effecting change speed gear ratios inbicycles and thelike as claimed in claim 1, said sector having a plurality 'of detent`engaging portions defining majorsteps of adjustnient "of said fork,"and means for adjusting said lever With respect to the axle 'carryingportion of said fork.

3. Aldevice for eillecting change speed gear ratios 1n bicycles and thelike, comprising a driving Wheel axle having side by side gears cidiiierent size, a fork pivotedto the rear 'trame of the bicycle in theends of which said axle is mounted, said fork comprising a pair of bellcrank levers each comprising an arm receiving the end of .said axle andan arm for adjusting said fork, said arms being adjustably connected,means on the frame 'of said bicycle engaging said Jork `adjusting armsfor holding said fork in rigid position of adjustment, the axle carryingarms having open slots receiving said axle. A

4. A device for 'effecting change speedgear ratios in bicycles and thelike, comprising a driving Wheel axle having side by side gears cidiiierent size, 'a fork pivoted to the rear 'frame of the bicycle in theends oi which said axle is mounted, said fork comprising 'a pairo'ifjbell crank levers each comprising an arm receiving the end of saidaxle and an arm for adjusting said fork, saidarms being adjustablyconnected, means on the trame ott said bicycle engaging said forkadjusting arms for holding said fork in rigid position ot adjustment,thepaxle carrying arms having open slots receiving said axle, and thumbnuts 'for securing the said axle to the said slots. f

5. A device i'or effecting change speed gear ratios in bicycles and thelike, comprising a driving vheel axle having side by side, gears ofdil'i'erent size, a iork pivoted to the rear trame of the bicycle in theends Voit' which said axle is mounted, said fork being swingable to andfrom the driving sprocket of the bicycleto permit the bicycle chain tobe manuallytransi'eried from one 'of thesaid gears to another, 'a leverforming part of said 'ork, and'means for retaining said lever rigid Withrespect to said frame. y L

1n testimony 'Whereofl atlix my signature.

YLuis ratunirr.k

